Dunkley has become renowned as one of the leading pressure players in the game through his defence, while McCluggage is coming off a career-best campaign in which he earned a maiden All-Australian blazer.
“Hugh’s growth from the quiet young Vic country lad that he was when he first turned up to the club to now has been exceptional,” Fagan said.
“He isn’t a loud leader, but he is a leader by example and has incredible emotional intelligence, so if I want a read on the group he will give me the best read that I can get.
“Dunks is impatient for results but also a very encouraging guy, he is incredibly honest – disarmingly so at times – if he has something on his mind, he will be the first to walk into my office and just tell me.
“And look at the way he plays, he is a rare beast that tries every bit as hard on defence as he does on offence. If there’s ever a man who would do a job for the team it is him.”
The three men will forge an eight-player leadership group – one which includes Will Ashcroft, Jarrod Berry, Cam Rayner, Jaspa Fletcher and recruit Oscar Allen, who arrived from West Coast having served as co-captain of the Eagles for the past two campaigns.
The presence of Ashcroft and Fletcher is particularly telling, given the pair are just 21, but already boast two premiership rings each.
Ashcroft has also won the past two Norm Smith Medals on grand final day, while some of Fletcher’s teammates have previously endorsed him as a future Lions captain, including Neale.
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